The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-27
GRANT IN PEACE.
BIZ GENERAL ADAM BADEAU.

Written for the Indianapolis Journal-Copyrighted.
The Third Term.
| Grants relief at being freed from the cares
and ENHANCEMENT of political life was at first so
| great that any reference by his friends to the
possibility of his reentering Office extremely
| distastful to him. Nevertheless, when the great
railroad strikes Of 1877 occurred, in the first
| after his retirement, his letters from America
abounded with illusions to the situation, and not
a few expressed the wish that ''strong man."
| fitted to cope with the emergency, had been at
| the head of the government OF course there
was no possibility of his returning to place at
that time. but if the crisis had lasted and there
| had been general demand for his services, l
think he would not then have hesitated to per-
| form what he might have considered public
duty. The idea of some such possibility was
certainly presented to his mind and although
he was always the last man to prepare for
likely contingencies, he still was revolving what
might be incumbent on him in case the gravity
of the situation increased. He admitted to me
| on more than ore occasion that it ight become
| his duty to return to public life OF course, he
| had not the slightest thought of taking any such
| step except in accordance with constitutional
provisions, and he certainly had no desire to
resume the which he had recently laid
| aside. He simply did not mean to shrink from
| any of the responsibilities which his past career
and the appreciation of his countrymen might
| impose
But the crisis passed away and he felt entire
| satisfaction at this result; first because of the
| relief to the country. and next because the shad
| ow of further public station had faded from his
| own future. After this he was more adverse
than to the thought of again becoming
| presidential aspirant. But his triumphal tour
abroad suggested the idea to his friends at home,
| many Of whom were anxious that he should be
kept out of the country in order to avoid prema-
ture political complications AS early as March.
| 1878 he wrote to from Rome: Most every
letter get from the States like Porter's to you,
asks me to remain abroad. They have designs
| for me which do not contemplate for myself.
| 1t is probable that will return to the United
States either in the fall or early next spring"
| This remark was meant for me much as for any
one else for had not hesitated to let him know
| that thought the country would desire his re-
| turn to power but at that time he had said no
! word to warrant me IN supposing that he enter
tanned the idea
| He did not. it is true, return to America SO
| soon he had expected, but this was because of
an improvement in his financial circumstances.
| When he first arrived in England he told me
that he had only $25, 900 to spend in foreign
| travel if that would last two years he could stay
| abroad two years, but if it became exhausted
| sooner he would be obliged to return. He was
| treated much like sovereign that his ex-
| penses were proportionately increased. and Of
| course the sum that he mentioned did not hold
| out nearly as long as he had hoped; but his son
| Ulysses, then living in California, was able to
make certain investments for his father which
resulted in placing nearly $50 900 at his disposal,
| General Grant enabled travel
far and as long as he pleased. Accordingly he
extended mis- stay
| wrote to him in the latter part of 1873, re-
| peating something that had been said to
| about the possible effect of my history Of his
| campaigns upon his political prospects, and sug
| costing that the concluding volumes should be
| delayed until his return to America; but he
piled: Il do not see what the publication of
your book at any particular time can have to do
| with the formation Of public opinion as to polt-
| ical objects. 1t has been long time in prepara-
ton, and the public has known all about it If
| the work should be withheld the public might
| say that there was an object in that. / would
| 60 as fast as possible. and when the book is
ready, publish it. Let the public say what they
| please"
In the early part of 1870 he left Europe for
the last time [ accompanied him far as
| Marseilles, where he took a steamer for the
| East and up to that time he had said no word to
me, nor, l am confident, to any other human
being, defining his intentions or desires in regard
| 20 third term. Mrs Grant often assured me
that 50 far as she could Judge he had formed no
| determination In the matter believe that at
| this time he had neither expectation nor ambi-
| ton to return to power
He showed this very plainly by insisting
against the advice of every political friend he
| had in the world returning to America
| Every one who knew anything about American
politics could foresee an immense enthusiasm on
his arrival. which, if it was developed oppor-
| tunely. might sweep him into the presidency;
| while if time We're allowed for it to cool, all the
| opposition and effects Of rival candidates could.
of course, be concentrated, and render even his
denomination difficult. This was said or writ
ten to him in hundred forms by the men who
| wished his denomination and thought
themselves sufficiently intimate or impor-
tant to offer their views. But he paid
no attention to the advice and re-
| turned to America in the autumn os 1870
nearly year before the presidential election,
| and more than six months sooner than his sup
porters desired: The reason he always assigned
| was that Mrs. Grant wanted to see her children
| He himself was far from being tired of travel;
on the 1st of August 1879. he wrote to me: .'At
the end Of twenty-six months l dread going
| back and would not if there were line of
steamers between here and Australia But J.
shall so to my quiet little home in Galena and
remain there until the cold drives me awav
Then | shall probably go South-possihly to
| Havana and Mexco-tO remain until April
On the Both of the same month he wrote to me-:
Il do not feel bad over the Information
gave you. am not a candidate for any office,
| nor would hold one that required any maneu-
vering or sacrifice to obtain"
| The enthusiasm that attended his return was
| greater than the most sanguine had anticipated
and gave him the keenest qualification. In
| December he wrote me long account of it from
| Philadelphia. In this letter he said To-day
| ] start for Cuba and Mexico; but he continued
II expect to be back IN Galena as soon as the
| weather gets pleasant in the spring. and remain
there until time to GO to Long Branch. will
then have the summer to arrange for a perma-
nent home and OCCUPATION 1t may be the Mic
| arauga canal, in which case shall live in New
York city. 1t must be employment or a country
home My means will not al init of a city home
| without employment to supplement- them" |
replied that thought the country would find an
| emplovmen for him that would renl1ira hin, To